Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
05-30-2010, 07:44 AM
#51
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
I also have a GP Patriot XL half built. I'm going to use those decals on the fun 51 since thier air force, and I'll find navy decals for the patriot. Have you deceided on antenna routing ?
05-30-2010, 04:10 PM
#52
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
Those Patriot decals should look nice on the 51. I'm probably going to run Spektrum on this bird, so main rx in the wing and maybe run the remote out to the side of the fuse?? I'll have to figure that one out when I install the radio gear. You got any ideas yet?
05-30-2010, 06:37 PM
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
If you look at the pics of A&PMech's bird, (the silver one with invasion stripes), his comes out of the back of the wing, up the fuse side and to the top of the fin.....I'll probably do that also.....seems like the simple solution. There's another thread where a guy ran his through all the wing ribs and concealed it inside the wing. I like the fake plywood antenna they show on the plans and I plan to put that on mine although it will probably break off at some point.
06-06-2010, 04:57 PM
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
Was able to set aside some time today to build the elevators...sad to say thats all I have to report....only the ailerons left and I can start putting this puppy together ! I have to buy some missile red monokote, But I have nearly a full roll of chrome lying around so I'll use that for the fuse.
06-08-2010, 09:29 PM
#55
RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
Sorry guys, I've been away for awhile! I got a new job and it's very time consuming. I have flown my Fun 51 several times now. I probably have almost two gallons through the O.S. .46LA now. She flies real good. I have noticed, however, the engine mount bolts loosen over time. If you snug them up, you just dig deeper into the plywood mounting rails. I came up with a simple solution and that was to add aluminum strips over the plywood engine rails. Anyhow, my buddy has one and we've been dogfighting like it's 1942, HAHAHA!!
06-09-2010, 02:24 AM
#56
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
Hey A&PMECH nice to hear you flew yours! Great tip on using the aluminum strips. Sounds like you're having a blast with the 51! I have to get off my butt and get mine done so I can have some fun too 
06-10-2010, 06:06 AM
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
A&PMECH great news your having fun with the 51 ! Did you locktite those engine mount screws ? Congrats on a successful maiden ! Really want to fly mine but tower is out of the super tigre 40 until late July[
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06-10-2010, 05:32 PM
#58
RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
Believe it or not, I did use loctite on the engine mount screws. There is an awful lot of vibration being tramitted through the fuselage. I balance all my props too. You guys will just have to wait and see if you encounter this with your '51's. All in all, I'm very happy with this airplane.
06-10-2010, 09:57 PM
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
A&PMECH..What are you running for power on yours ? I also noticed some pics of other fun51s that put the fuel tank on the opposite side of the engine,and I thought thats the way it should be until I looked more closely at the plans.....the Batt, receiver, and 2 servos are already on the opposite side of the engine. To put a full tank of fuel on that side would probably rquire some trimming at take off.
06-16-2010, 05:15 AM
#61
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
Hey dragzila, have you covered your airplane already? Sounds like you're just waiting for the engine. Would love to see some pics of your work! I have been sidetracked by a build contest on Wattflyer, but I'll get my Fun 51 done soon enough 
06-20-2010, 07:02 AM
#63
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
Not yet guys...I had a side job that has taken all my spare time...another week and I should be able to get back on it....I did however find an engine. I didn't want to wait until late july for a super tigre, so I bought an O.S. Max FP .40 from ebay with less than an hour on it. Waiting for that to arrive so I can figure the rail spacing.
06-21-2010, 07:13 PM
#64
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
My vintage O.S. 40FP arrived today ! I cant believe I got this thing for 30.00 on ebay....came with the box, and instructions too. Seller claims it had less than 1 hour on it, and by all indications I would say he was truthful. Have to break it in now.
06-22-2010, 09:06 AM
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
ORIGINAL: dragzila
My vintage O.S. 40FP arrived today ! I cant believe I got this thing for 30.00 on ebay....came with the box, and instructions too. Seller claims it had less than 1 hour on it, and by all indications I would say he was truthful. Have to break it in now.
My vintage O.S. 40FP arrived today ! I cant believe I got this thing for 30.00 on ebay....came with the box, and instructions too. Seller claims it had less than 1 hour on it, and by all indications I would say he was truthful. Have to break it in now.
06-22-2010, 10:22 AM
#67
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
Thans for the info....I have always used the castor oil blend in all my engines. I think this little 40 should pull the 51 around quite well...Im not looking for speed, but rather close in aerobatics.
06-22-2010, 02:38 PM
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
I have a sig fazer that is similar in size and construction, and my .40fp pulls it around well spinning a apc 11X4. It would be nice to have a little power sometimes, so I bought a .46LA to try also, but I don't expect it to have much more oomph than the FP.
I bought a fun 51 kit with the intention of making it a control line plane, I haven't started the build yet.
06-29-2010, 05:29 AM
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
How are the 51's coiming along? After reading this thread I had to interupt my Gee Bee Z 33% build to do one of these from scratch. I have a P82 built from two modified Fun 51 kits that flys great! So I used one set of plans to cut a kit and build the single engine version. I made the trailing edge of the wing thicker for hinge installation. The front of the fuse is 4 laminated layers of 1/8" light ply and the power will be a Magnum .52 4s. Any progress?
07-01-2010, 08:29 PM
#70
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
Hey bps I haven't done anything new to mine lately, but please feel free to post up some info./pics of your progress. I would love to see it I am hoping to get this thing done soon - I warned you all that I was slow 
I am hoping to get this thing done soon - I warned you all that I was slow
07-02-2010, 06:02 AM
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
Thanks for the offer, I did not want to hijack your thread. Nice to see the building going on here though. Mine is ready to cover and I would love to fly it on Monday, we will see.
07-29-2010, 06:35 AM
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
I have been flying mine for a few weeks now with a Magnum .52 4s. Plenty of power, will just hang on the nose and is in general a blast to fly. Took my twin mustang and the Fun 51 to the field and had a ball with both of them. I have decided to scratch a larger plane for the Saito .82 4s from these plans. Scale up about 10% should do it providing a 50" wing span. Thinking about plug in wings.
05-30-2011, 12:39 PM
#74
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
Started working on the Fun 51 again - where does the time go anyways?? [X(]
I didn't cover the wing before inserting it into the fuselage since it would have scratched the covering. So, I slid the wing in first - pics 1 & 2. I made sure the wing was square and centered with the fuse, and tacked it in with some thin CA.
As you can see in pic 3, there is a gap between the wing and the fuse - partially due to some overzealous sanding So, I made some shims by sanding some 1/16" x 3/8" balsa by trial and error to the correct shape - one example in pic 4. Then slid the shims in and used medium CA to glue them and the wing to the fuselage - pic 5.
Now, on to covering the wing...
I didn't cover the wing before inserting it into the fuselage since it would have scratched the covering. So, I slid the wing in first - pics 1 & 2. I made sure the wing was square and centered with the fuse, and tacked it in with some thin CA.
As you can see in pic 3, there is a gap between the wing and the fuse - partially due to some overzealous sanding
So, I made some shims by sanding some 1/16" x 3/8" balsa by trial and error to the correct shape - one example in pic 4. Then slid the shims in and used medium CA to glue them and the wing to the fuselage - pic 5.Now, on to covering the wing...
05-31-2011, 03:59 AM
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RE: Tower Fun 51 Kit Build
You are going to love this plane. It has become my favorite Sunday throw in the car and go flyer. Mine is plans built and I also have a twin built from two kits. I enlarged the plans to 51" and scratch built with a Saito .82 4s using mechanical retracts. This is also a great flyer. Picture below, good luck with yours.